Sustainable and smart: exploring the nexus between blockchain and sustainability in inter-organisational collaboration

This exploratory study examines the nexus between blockchain and collaboration towards sustainability, which has been largely understudied despite advances in understanding blockchain technology. The urgency of sustainability objectives presents an opportunity to explore blockchain’s potential as a collaboration enabler. The study investigates the opportunities and challenges associated with blockchain’s use in this context to understand the relevance and conditions for its adoption. The research draws on original survey data and insights from expert interviews, making two significant contributions: (i) expanding on the limited literature on stakeholder perceptions of blockchain, and (ii) providing a framework outlining the conditions under which blockchain may support stakeholders initiate, manage and evaluate collaborative activities. The study’s findings are illustrated with reference to the challenges of broadening and deepening collaboration towards sustainability and can inform decision-making processes related to the adoption of blockchain technologies

Peptide TNIIIA2 Derived from Tenascin-C Contributes to Malignant Progression in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer via β1-Integrin Activation in Fibroblasts

Inflammatory bowel diseases increase the risk of colorectal cancer and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Tenascin-C, a matricellular protein, is highly expressed in inflammatory bowel diseases, especially colorectal cancer. However, the role of tenascin-C in the development of CAC is not yet fully understood. We previously showed that a peptide derived from tenascin-C, peptide TNIIIA2, induces potent and sustained activation of β1-integrin. Moreover, we recently reported that peptide TNIIIA2 promotes invasion and metastasis in colon cancer cells. Here, we show the pathological relevance of TNIIIA2-related functional site for the development of CAC. First, expression of the TNIIIA2-containing TNC peptides/fragments was detected in dysplastic lesions of an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) mouse model. In vitro experiments demonstrated that conditioned medium from peptide TNIIIA2-stimulated human WI-38 fibroblasts induced malignant transformation in preneoplastic epithelial HaCaT cells. Indeed, these pro-proliferative effects stimulated by peptide TNIIIA2 were abrogated by peptide FNIII14, which has the ability to inactivate β1-integrin. Importantly, peptide FNIII14 was capable of suppressing polyp formation in the AOM/DSS model. Therefore, tenascin-C-derived peptide TNIIIA2 may contribute to the formation of CAC via activation of stromal fibroblasts based on β1-integrin activation. Peptide FNIII14 could represent a potential prophylactic treatment for CAC

The Promoting Effect of the Extracellular Matrix Peptide TNIIIA2 Derived from Tenascin-C in Colon Cancer Cell Infiltration

The extracellular matrix (ECM) molecule tenascin C (TNC) is known to be highly expressed under various pathological conditions such as inflammation and cancer. It has been reported that the expression of TNC is correlated with the malignant potential of cancer. In our laboratory, it was found that the peptide derived from the alternative splicing domain A2 in TNC, termed TNIIIA2, has been shown to influence a variety of cellular processes, such as survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effect of TNC/TNIIIA2 on the invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells, Colon26-M3.1, or PMF-Ko14, using an in vitro and in vivo experimental system. The degree of cell invasion was increased by the addition of TNC and TNIIIA2 in a dose-dependent manner. The invasion by TNC and TNIIIA2 were suppressed by an MMP inhibitor or TNIIIA2-blocking antibody. In an in vivo experiment, pulmonary metastasis was promoted conspicuously by the addition of TNIIIA2. In this study, we found that colon cancer cell invasion and metastasis was accelerated by TNC/TNIIIA2 via MMP induction. This result suggests the possibility of a new strategy targeting TNC/TNIIIA2 for colon cancer. View Full-Tex

Transgenic Monkey Model of the Polyglutamine Diseases Recapitulating Progressive Neurological Symptoms

Age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and the polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, are becoming prevalent as a consequence of elongation of the human lifespan. Although various rodent models have been developed to study and overcome these diseases, they have limitations in their translational research utility owing to differences from humans in brain structure and function and in drug metabolism. Here, we generated a transgenic marmoset model of the polyQ diseases, showing progressive neurological symptoms including motor impairment. Seven transgenic marmosets were produced by lentiviral introduction of the human ataxin 3 gene with 120 CAG repeats encoding an expanded polyQ stretch. Although all offspring showed no neurological symptoms at birth, three marmosets with higher transgene expression developed neurological symptoms of varying degrees at 3–4 months after birth, followed by gradual decreases in body weight gain, spontaneous activity, and grip strength, indicating time-dependent disease progression. Pathological examinations revealed neurodegeneration and intranuclear polyQ protein inclusions accompanied by gliosis, which recapitulate the neuropathological features of polyQ disease patients. Consistent with neuronal loss in the cerebellum, brain MRI analyses in one living symptomatic marmoset detected enlargement of the fourth ventricle, which suggests cerebellar atrophy. Notably, successful germline transgene transmission was confirmed in the second-generation offspring derived from the symptomatic transgenic marmoset gamete. Because the accumulation of abnormal proteins is a shared pathomechanism among various neurodegenerative diseases, we suggest that this new marmoset model will contribute toward elucidating the pathomechanisms of and developing clinically applicable therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.ArticleeNeuro.4(2):e0250(2017)journal articl

Enzalutamide versus abiraterone as a first-line endocrine therapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer (ENABLE study for PCa): A study protocol for a multicenter randomized phase III trial

金沢大学附属病院泌尿器科Background: Both enzalutamide and abiraterone have demonstrated improved radiographic progression-free and overall survival for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) compared with placebo controls before docetaxel treatment in phase III studies. These oral agents target androgen and androgen receptor signaling and are thought to be less toxic than chemotherapy. Cross-resistance to these agents was recently reported because of their similar mechanism of action, and it is important to assess which agent is more effective to use initially for CRPC. Methods/design: The present study is a phase III, investigator-initiated, multicenter, head-to-head, randomized controlled trial investigating enzalutamide vs. abiraterone as a first-line treatment for CRPC patients. Patients will be randomly assigned to an enzalutamide or an abiraterone treatment group. The primary endpoint is the time to prostate-specific antigen progression. The target sample size is set at 100 patients per group (total, 200 patients). The study duration is 5 years, and the duration for recruitment is 2 years and 6 months. Discussion: Thus far, there have been no prospective head-to-head studies comparing enzalutamide and abiraterone. This ENABLE study will clarify which agent should be prioritized for CRPC patients and enable clinicians to decide the appropriate treatment before chemotherapy. Trial registration: University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center identifier UMIN000015529. Registrated 11/1/2014. © 2017 The Author(s)

島根県西部地区出身看護学生の就職先選択要因に関する調査

島根県西部地区出身の看護学生の就職先選択要因について明らかにすることを目的とし、過去5年間に島根県立大学短期大学部看護学科を卒業した西部地区就職者4名、東部地区就職者9名の合計13名にインタビュー調査を行った。就職先を選択した要因、西部地区の病院に就職しなかった要因、就職先を選択して良かったこと、西部地区への就職率増加につながると思うこと、島根県立大学に求める支援の５つの視点に沿って分析した。その結果から、病院との連携をさらに図りながら現在のキャリア支援を継続していくとともに、卒業後のフォローアップ体制についてもさらに検討していく必要があると考える